Tag: review

Rediscovering L’Oreal Lipsticks

It had been a good while since I last purchased a lipstick from L’Oreal, maybe years even. On a recent mini makeup haul I found myself browsing the L’Oreal counter and was lured in by the intriguing array of lip shades. Without getting too carried away, I decided to purchase two lipsticks and a gloss…

L’Oreal Color Riche Lipstick Erotique 640

I am in love with this subtle pink shade. Its creamy consistency looks matte but keeps its moisture. It’s a great everyday shade and it’s currently been one of my favourite go to lipsticks.

L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Lipstick Pure Blake

Blake’s red is a classic Hollywood red. It’s long lasting and doesn’t dry out the lips. It’s one of those lipsticks that makes you feel super glam as soon as you apply it.

L’Oreal Paris Infallible Gloss Gloss me Gorgeous DAZZLE 202

When I want my lips to have a super glossy look, this is the perfect lipgloss to go for. It’s not overly sticky yet has an incredible shine that really does make your lips dazzle. I love this one for nights out and it looks gorgeous with a dramatic eye look.

I am currently loving my recent purchases and I’m surprised I hadn’t previously ventured back to L’Oreal earlier. One reason may be that I can often be quite fussy about lipstick scents and I find that the L’Oreal ones have an old fashioned makeup smell, which reminds me of the smell of Palm of Violet sweets – great if you really like Palm of Violets. Something I do particularly like about these lipsticks is the packaging and I especially love the look of the gold one. The formulas are good and one thing consistent of all three of these products is that they don’t dry out the lips and they feel comfortable to wear.

I really like the variety of classic shades from the L’Oreal lipstick collections. I feel that they are lip shades that you can always go back to and I’m sure I’ll be repurchasing these particular ones again in the future.

Have you tried any of the L’Oreal lipsticks recently?

Samio x

November 9, 2015
LookFantastic October Beauty Box Review

It’s the end of October already but better late than never I guess. So here is a review of this month’s LookFantastic Beauty Box.

Balance Me Radiance Face Mask

I’ve used this face mask before and you can read my full review of it here. As it is a product that I’ve previously used and liked, I was quite happy to find it in this month’s box.

Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumizing No Oil Oil

As someone with ‘big hair’, who uses copious amount of ‘actual oil’ to add moisture, this isn’t exactly a product targeted at me. I will be quite honest in saying that I haven’t tried this product, nor do I intend to (for obvious reasons) but I’m sure I’ll be able to give it to a friend who will find it useful.

Look Good Feel Better Eye Shading Brush

I currently use a few of the Look Good Feel Better makeup tools and so I was happy when I saw this eye shading brush in this month’s box. Like the other LGFB brushes, it’s super soft and it works perfectly for applying and blending eyeshadow.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

I’m always happy to find new skincare in a beauty box. I’ve not tried any Murad products before and although I’m still yet to try this exfoliating cleaner (due to the fact that I currently have a few on the go), I’m sure it will come in handy for when I’m next travelling and need to take a miniature.

Monu Firming Moisturiser

I had never previously heard of Monu skincare but I must say that I am pleased with this moisturiser. It does what it says and helps to firm the skin and you can feel it working instantly. It’s not greasy and it sits well under makeup, which I particularly like.

Elemis Hydra-Balance Day Cream

I really like this day cream. It’s been ideal for my skin whilst being on holiday, as after coming in from the sun it was nice to refresh and apply this day cream to restore moisture and hydration to my skin. It really does help to hydrate the skin and you can instantly feel it soak in. – I’d probably buy this product in full size in the future!

Nuxe Paris Hand and Nail Cream

I’m surprised I haven’t finished this hand cream already. I’ve been carrying this around in my handbag on a daily basis and using it on the go. It doesn’t feel too oily and keeps my hands moisturised for a good amount of time. This miniature size has actually really come in handy when my handbag has been stuffed to the brim.

Overall that’s another LookFantastic Beauty Box that I’ve been pleased with. I’ve received a good selection of products, some of which have really come in handy and others which I would purchase in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?

You can subscribe to The Limited Edition LookFantastic Beauty Boxes here.

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

October 30, 2015
My New & Improved Skincare Routine – Brands From Abroad

I have been introduced to so many new skincare products recently and my entire skincare routine has been given a total revamp! It’s something that I’d been wanting to do for a while as I knew that due to my skin changing (age wise) and the seasons changing, I wasn’t getting the best results from my previous routine and so it was time to switch things up.

I always like to try products for a couple of weeks before giving my verdict but after a couple of months I can say that these products have become firm favorites as part of my new skincare routine.

Gatineau Peeling Expert Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream

First up is the Gatineau Peeling Expert Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream (or as I like to call it, face scrub). I wasn’t sure about this product when I first used it, as the ‘micro-beads’ felt quite soft and didn’t feel like they were really scrubbing and exfoliating the skin like some face scrubs do – This is probably where I’d previously been going wrong using rougher face scrubs – as after a couple of time of using this product, I realized that it didn’t need to feel like it was ‘scrubbing’ my skin at all. The Peeling Expert’s gentle exfoliation was all I needed to help exfoliate, smooth and brighten my skin.

For the past two months I’ve been using the Gatineau Peeling Expert two times per week and it’s helped to keep my skin feeling smooth and looking bright without being harsh on my skin.

Astalift Brightening Serum

The Astalift brightening serum is one of my favorites. I mentioned it in a previous post here, so I won’t go into too much detail but I’ve been using this morning and night now for the past couple of months and my complexion has never looked more even. My blemishes have been massively reduced and overall I feel this product gives my skin a fabulous radiance.

Caudalie Polyphenols C15 Broad Spectrum Spf 20 Anti-Wrinkle Protect Fluid

Other than winning the award for longest title – The Caudalie Polyphenols C15 also contains SPF 20, so it’s a great for daily application to help protect the skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid which helps to plump the skin and smooth out any fine lines. It’s super light weight, smells amazing and smooths on easily to the face and neck making my skin feel super fresh in the mornings.

It is meant to be used as moisturizer alone but on days when my skin feels dry, I like to add a creamier moisturizer on top. I love that this one protects my skin against UVA and UVB radiation though, so I currently like to use this every morning.

Embryolisse lait-crème concentré

Finally the embryolisse lait-crème concentré is another skincare product that I recently reviewed here on my blog. This stuff is amazing for when I need to add instant hydration to my skin. It’s great to use as an everyday moisturizer and for me it’s been the perfect combination to apply it after the Caudalie Polyphenols C15, to help prep my skin ready for makeup.

I’ve been loving my new skincare routine, so much so that I’ve been enjoying plenty more makeup free days as my skin has been looking far more radiant.

Do you like to update your skincare routine occasionally? Which skincare products have you been loving recently?

Samio x

To shop any of these products click the titles highlighted in pink.

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

August 12, 2015
Barry M Loud Mouth Liquid Lip Colour Review

When it comes to lip shades, a girl can never have too many reds right? No, I didn’t think so and so my latest addition to my collection is this Loud Mouth Liquid Lip Colour in shade Dive from Barry M. It’s been a while since I bought anything from Barry M but as soon as I saw these intriguing liquid lip colours I knew I had to give one a go.

As you can see, this lip colour is a vibrant deep red and the colour comes out as intense as it looks in the tube. It’s very glossy and more slippery as opposed to sticky on the lips. It glides onto the lips easily but you do have to be careful when it comes to perfecting the lip line and I suggest applying a lip liner first.

I think the colour looks great on and I love the intense shine. However, this isn’t a lip colour you can apply once and leave on for the rest of the day. Oh no, this stuff is high maintenance. I wore it recently on a night out and after merrily and obliviously dancing away for some time, I finally went to the ladies and immediately spotted my lips in the mirror and the major lip line bleed, which did not look attractive! So be warned, if you’re going to brave it with this bold red, regular liner top ups are required when you’re wearing this one. It certainly is not smudge proof, so I would not suggest wearing it when you’re going for food, less it might end up looking like you’ve actually chewed your beef burger straight from the carcass, just a heads up.

Samio x

April 11, 2015
No7 Blissful Body Wash & Completely Quenched Body Lotion Review

It’s not often I blog about shower gels and body lotions, because to be honest they never seem to excite me quite the same as facial skincare products do. I’m probably not alone in saying that I quite frequently indulge in new skincare products for my face but lets not forget, the skin on the rest of our bodies deserve some TLC too. Don’t get me wrong, I always use shower gel and body moisturiser but I put much less thought into them compare to the products that I buy for my face.

No7 Blissful Body Wash

Most of the time I’ll have my usual ‘go to’ shower gels, that smell nice and do the job at keeping my skin clean but I can sometimes find that they leave my skin feeling ‘stripped’ and quite dry. I’ve really loved using this body wash on my skin as it feels more hydrating and it leaves my skin feeling soft after showering.

I must say that the price is a little steep compared to what I usually pay for day to day shower gel but like I say, sometimes your skin needs a little extra TLC and this does do the job. In terms of a repurchase, I would be tempted but I’d probably alternate it between one of my cheaper body washes and use this one when my skin is feeling a little dry.

No7 Completely Quenched Moisturising Body Lotion

I really love this body lotion. I often struggle to find creams that add enough moisture to my skin (especially to my legs after shaving), without leaving them feeling greasy. This lotion adds plenty of moisture and shine to my skin without leaving it feeling oily or sticky afterwards. It’s lightly fragranced and leaves my skin feeling so lovely and soft. I often suffer with irritated skin on my legs and I’ve found when using this I’ve had no problems. It’s certainly become a new favourite for me in terms of an everyday body moisturiser.

Shop No7 Blissful Body Wash here and No7 Completely Quenched Moisturising Body Lotion here.

Samio x

March 18, 2015
The Wonder Cream – La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo anti-blemish cream Review

Most of the time, before buying a new product I like to do my research (unless of course it happens to be an impulse buy). With this product of course it was no exception and if you are a frequent reader of beauty blogs then I’m sure you’ve probably came across this product before. If however you have not, then let me tell you a bit about my experience with it.

After reading several positive reviews about this product and hearing some go as far as to say they saw results after just one day, I knew I had to finally try it for myself.

I would descibe the cream as more of a serum. You only need to apply around a pea sized amount and a small amout seems to go a long way. It soaks into the skin quickly and doesn’t leave any residue on the skin afterwards. I like to apply my regular morning/night facial moisturiser after applying the Effaclar Duo.

The cream claims to reduce blemishes and marks and I am happy to say that it does live up to those claims. After using the cream morning and night for just a week, I was able to see results. I have since been using the cream for the past couple of months and I am really pleased with the results.

Below are the before and after pictures of both the right and left side of my face after around 3 weeks of uing the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo cream.

On first glance you may not be able to see any major differences between each of the images but if you look closer at each blemish on the above images marked ‘before’ and compare each one on the image below, I think you can tell that each blemish has actually faded.

I feel like the blemish reduction on the left side has been more significant. Lets be honest, everything looks far worse close up as you get to see the skin in so much detail but I can massively see an improvement to the fading of the dark spot under my left eye and also to the scar to the left side of my nose (right side on the image).

I’m really impressed with the Effeclar Duo cream. Since using it, I’ve seen a significant reduce to the blemishes on my skin and overall it has reduced any patches of redness on my face too. It has definitely been a wonder cream for me, which I will continue to use and most likely repurchase, so I give the product a big thumbs up.

Shop La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo anti-blemish cream here.

Samio x

March 15, 2015
The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream Review

I recently ran out of my usual eye cream the No7 Overnight Revitalising Eye Balm and as I occasionally like to mix up my skincare products, I thought it was time for a change. During one of my routinely visits to The Body Shop, I decided to try out this eye cream from their Vitamin E range. It’s in a similar price range to the No7 one but at £11 it’s just a pound cheaper.

I’ve been using this Vitamin E eye cream for several weeks now and I’m really pleased with it. It feels so soft and gentle on the skin and after using it daily, both morning and night it’s really helped to keep my under eyes moisturised and hydrated, preventing them from looking dull or tired.

I feel like it has helped reduced puffiness somewhat, although this could be partly due to the fact that I’ve been trying to sleep on my back more instead of face planting into the pillow or the side of my boyfriend.

All in all I’m really pleased with this product and I think it is one I’ll be purchasing again. I’d also be keen to try more of the other products from the Vitamin E range too. Once again, I’ve found another product from The Body Shop that I’m really pleased with and would recommend.

Samio x

March 11, 2015
No7 BB Lips Review

For those of you who regularly ready my blog, you may have noticed that I have a thing for nude lip colours at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to rock my bright red and pinks but when you don’t know what to go for on the lips, you can’t go wrong with nude.

I’ve had this No7 BB Lips in shade Ballerina for a few months now and I’ve noticed that it has become my go to lip coverage, as it now lives in my handbag.

The BB lips, comes out like a gloss but doesn’t feel overly sticky on the lips and it makes them feel nice and smoothly glossed as opposed to tacky. It also feels rather nourishing on the lips and for me helps keep my lips hydrated. It doesn’t really have a scent or after taste, so it’s ideal if you’re not keen on scented lip products.

This product contains SPF 15 so it’s a bonus that it provides UV protection for your lips and the colour, Ballerina, is a really nice opaque nude shade which makes the lips look healthy and moisturised.

I personally like using this one on ‘barely there’ makeup days. It’s so subtle yet it makes your lips feel and look that little bit better and like I say, it contains SPF so it’s an all round winner for me. I would definitely recommend the No7 BB Lips as one to keep in your handbag for when you’re out and about.

Shop No7 BB Lips here.

Samio x

March 10, 2015
Balance Me Radiance Face Mask Review

I love trying out new skin care products, so when I saw that Glamour magazine were giving away one of four Balance me products with this months issue, it gave me a great excuse to purchase and try out something new.

I went for the Balance Me Radiance Face Mask. I always like trying out different face masks and I like to use different ones for different times, depending on my skin. I’d came across Balance Me products before but never given any a go until now.

The face mask comes out of the tube as a cream like consistency and as you rub it onto the skin you can feel the tiny bits of ground walnut shells very gently exfoliating the skin. It feels rather like a very thick cream once applied all over the face and doesn’t set hard or tighten on the skin but instead firms slightly and remains a little tacky. It feels really kind and gentle on the skin and I experienced no tingling or discomfort, as I can with some face masks.

The Balance Me face mask is 98% natural, so maybe the fact it contains less chemicals explains why it feels so gentle on the skin. It has a really fresh, almost plant like smell which I think think smells rather pleasant too.

After washing off the face mask, my skin is left felling so soft and hydrated. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and and looking refreshed.

I’m really pleased with this face mask (not bad for a freebie). I actually think I’d be tempted to purchase this now in the future as I love how nice and soft it leaves my skin feeling. I think I’ll also be tempted to purchase more Balance Me products after trying this one. Maybe I’ll have to pick up a few more of this months Glamour mag to try out a few more Balance Me freebies!

Samio x

March 8, 2015
Uspicy 10 Piece Makeup Brush Set Review

Recently I received these makeup brushed from Uspicy. I hadn’t previously heard of the brand before so I didn’t know what to expect but when they arrived I was pleasantly surprised and have been ever since using them.

First of all they come neatly packaged in this gift style storage box. Inside the set contains 10 different makeup brushes; 5 large and 5 slim/smaller brushes, each for different types of makeup application.

Along with the set comes a small booklet which includes a list and picture of each brush, along with a small description next to each, suggesting what each brush be used for. The booklet includes multiple languages, one of them of course being English. The booklet is quite helpful especially if you’re not used to using some of the makeup brushes, as it tells you which part of the face and what type of products they are intended for. The only error I spotted was that one of the brushes was titled in what I can only describe as gibberish, which I renamed the ‘Rounded Angled Brush’ for the purpose of this post. Other than that, I found the booklet rather handy.

As well as the booklet, inside the box comes a Uspicy card, which you can write on as a gift card to someone if you’re giving the brushes as a present.

The brushes themselves are smartly branded in gold with the Uspicy logo and have glossy white handles and gold rims. I think the brushes look smart and each brush feels so soft! I’ve loved using the flat brush to apply my BB cream/foundation and the round brush to add powder. Both feel lovely and soft when applying products all over my face. I’ve used the majority of the brushes in this kit so far and I’m really pleased with all of them. As of yet I’ve seen no malting and the brushes have kept their softness even after regular use.

I think these brushes are really good value for money and I’m glad I was introduced to them as they have now took the place of my everyday makeup brushes. You can find the Uspicy brushes here.

Flat Brush

Tapered Brush

Flat Angled Brush

Rounded Angled Brush

Round Brush

Precision Flat Brush

Precision Tapered Brush

Precision Flat Angled Brush

Precision Angled Brush

Precision Round Brush

Samio x

March 3, 2015